Rangers summon Williams for Friday start

Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Jerome Williams had his contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock and he is scheduled to get the start for the Texas Rangers in Friday's series opener against Oakland.

Williams was 0-1 with a 6.10 earned run average in two starts for the Express.

The 32-year-old righty had a 1-4 record with a 6.04 ERA in 26 relief appearances for Houston this season before being released on July 10. He signed with the Rangers a day later.

Williams is 43-51 with a 4.45 ERA in 181 career games (117 starts) with the Giants, Cubs, Nationals, Angels and Astros.

The Rangers also placed outfielder Jake Smolinski on the 15-day disabled list with a bone bruise and released pitcher Justin Marks.

Additionally, the club activated pitcher Joseph Ortiz from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Double-A Frisco and transferred third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to the 60-day DL.

Ortiz had been on the DL all season with a fractured left foot. Kouzmanoff is recovering from a back procedure performed in early May.